“Sensual indulgence weakens the mind and debases the soul. The moral and intellectual powers are benumbed and paralyzed by the gratification of the animal propensities and it is impossible for the slave of passion to realize the sacred obligation of the Law of God, to appreciate the atonement, or to place right value upon the soul.”

American author and religious leader

Ellen G. White was an American author and religious leader in the 19th century. She was a prophet and co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and her influence helped shape the movement’s early years. Working alongside other Adventist leaders, including Joseph Bates and her husband James White, she played a central role in the small group that grew into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She is also remembered as a leading figure in American vegetarian history, and the Smithsonian named her among its “100 Most Significant Americans of All Time.”